On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, President Trump and his administration unveiled a sweeping expansion of federal enforcement operations targeting alleged fraud and immigration violations in states led by Democratic governors, signaling a dramatic escalation in the ongoing standoff between the White House and sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide. The announcement came just one day after Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar and the public face of his border enforcement strategy, warned on Fox News that the recent surge of federal law enforcement in Minneapolis was merely the “tip of the iceberg.”
Homan, speaking with host Sean Hannity, made clear that Minnesota’s operation—sparked by allegations of fraud involving billions of dollars—was only the opening salvo in a nationwide campaign. He named Illinois, New York, and California as the next major targets, describing the effort as a “road show” that would soon sweep across the country. “If the Democrats are having a fit now, you better get counseling because it’s about to get a hell of a lot bigger,” Homan stated, as reported by the Tampa Free Press.
The administration’s plan includes bolstering federal enforcement with 10,000 additional agents, a move that Homan said would help “flood the zone” in sanctuary cities. He directly addressed resistance from local officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has publicly defied federal efforts. “Tim Walz says he’s not going anywhere? Well, either am I,” Homan quipped, reinforcing that top administration officials, including President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, are united in their commitment to intensify operations.
According to The New York Times, the Department of Homeland Security has already deployed 2,000 law enforcement officers to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, an operation that turned deadly when a federal agent shot and killed a woman during an enforcement action. The incident has sparked renewed calls from local officials for federal agents to withdraw from the city, highlighting the fraught relationship between federal and state authorities over immigration and law enforcement priorities.
Homan insisted that the southern border is currently the “most secure” in the nation’s history, crediting the tireless work of Border Patrol, ICE, and FBI agents. He pointed to a 70% arrest rate for public safety threats among those apprehended, emphasizing that the focus remains on criminals and national security risks. Still, he warned that simply being in the country illegally keeps an individual “on the table” for potential removal. “We’re keeping President Trump’s promise to the American people to make this country safe again,” Homan said, promising that operations would only intensify in the coming year.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed Homan’s tough rhetoric in a Fox News interview, vowing to pursue fraud tied to public programs in California and directly challenging Governor Gavin Newsom. “We’re going to come to you, Gov. Newsom, and we’re going to arrest every single individual that has ties to this kind of stealing of taxpayer dollars, and we will hold them accountable,” Noem said, according to The New York Times.
The crackdown in Minnesota has centered on investigations into pandemic-era programs designed to feed children and other social safety net initiatives. More than 90 people, most of Somali origin, have been charged with federal felonies in recent years. The Department of Health and Human Services has responded by freezing approximately $10 billion in funding for child care subsidies, social services, and cash support for low-income families in Minnesota, New York, California, Illinois, and Colorado, citing “massive amounts of fraud.” However, officials did not provide evidence of widespread fraud in four of the five states, fueling criticism from state leaders. “Thousands of parents and children depend on these child care programs to help them make ends meet, and now their livelihoods are being put at risk,” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said in a statement.
Immigrant advocates have condemned the federal operation in Minnesota, arguing that it unfairly targets immigrants based on the actions of a small group. The administration, however, has doubled down on its stance that sanctuary cities and states undermine national security and public safety. Homan dismissed threats by state officials to block or arrest federal agents as ineffective, declaring that federal forces “won’t be bullied” and are coming “hard and fast.”
The Trump administration’s aggressive approach is part of a broader strategy to reshape immigration enforcement nationwide. In addition to deploying thousands of agents, the administration has moved to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from countries experiencing humanitarian crises, further intensifying the debate over federal authority and humanitarian obligations. Legal challenges to these moves are ongoing, with federal judges in several states scrutinizing the administration’s process and motivations.
The expansion of enforcement operations also comes amid a series of high-profile executive actions from the White House. In the same week, President Trump proposed a massive increase in military spending and withdrew the United States from dozens of international organizations, including key United Nations bodies. These moves underscore a policy agenda focused on projecting American power and prioritizing national interests over multinational cooperation.
State and local officials in targeted jurisdictions have pledged to fight back, warning that the federal crackdown threatens to disrupt essential services, break up families, and undermine trust in law enforcement. The administration’s critics argue that the focus on fraud and immigration violations is politically motivated and risks harming vulnerable communities, especially children and low-income families who rely on public assistance programs.
Despite the mounting controversy, Homan and other administration officials remain steadfast. “Sleep well,” Homan told viewers, assuring the public that federal agents are working around the clock to remove threats and uphold President Trump’s promises. Whether the administration’s sweeping enforcement actions will achieve their stated goals—or further inflame tensions between federal and state governments—remains to be seen. For now, one thing is certain: the battle over immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies is entering a new, more confrontational phase, with profound implications for millions of Americans.
As the administration gears up for what it describes as a nationwide “road show” of enforcement, the eyes of the nation—and the world—are watching to see how this high-stakes clash between federal power and local resistance unfolds in the months ahead.
